Now scientists are determining whether paper is the best alternative, in terms of preserving the planet's resources. Studies are being carried out to ascertain what would happen if we replaced plastic bags with paper and how this would affect our carbon footprint. The results might surprise you!
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Plastic bags
Supermarket giant Morrisons has increased the price of its reusable plastic bags from 10p to 15p. Bosses say this is a trial and coincides with introducing a 20p paper bag as well in selected stores. The supermarket chain says reducing plastic is their customers' main environmental concern, according to market research.
In the United States, paper bags have been quite popular for some time, but in the UK, supermarkets have tended to use plastic bags, as it's considered a more durable material. Scientists are carrying out research to decide whether paper bags are really "greener" than plastic ones - which depends on how much energy it takes to manufacture the bag, how many times the bag can be reused, whether it's easy to recycle and how quickly it will decompose if discarded.
Energy use
The Northern Ireland Assembly released a research paper that revealed it took more than four times as much energy to make a paper bag as it did to make a plastic one. Plastic bags are manufactured from the waste products of oil refining, but forests must be cut down to make paper bags. According to the report, the manufacturing process for paper bags also produces a higher level of toxic chemicals than it does to make single-use plastic bags.
In terms of distributing the bags, paper is heavier, so transporting it requires more energy – thus increasing the carbon footprint.
Different materials
The Environment Agency conducted a study on a selection of bags manufactured from different materials to determine how many times they must be reused to lower their global warming potential. The research found plastic bags must be reused four times and paper bags three times to reduce their carbon footprint. Cotton bags needed the greatest number of uses (a massive 131) to make them environmentally friendly, because of the large amount of energy used to grow, fertilise and produce cotton yarn.
Despite paper bags needing the lowest amount of reuse, the research suggested that it was questionable whether a paper bag would last long enough for three shopping trips. Paper bags are more prone to splitting and tearing, especially when wet. A plastic bag was more durable and would therefore last longer, making it the greener option in the long term.
The Environment Agency concluded its study by stating it was "unlikely" a paper bag could be reused the required number of times to make it the most eco-friendly option, due to its lack of durability.
Waste and recycling
As a material with low durability, paper will decompose faster than plastic, therefore it is less likely to pose a risk to wildlife by becoming a source of litter. However, this argument works both ways: initiatives to stamp out single-use plastic packaging means the plastic items that are being produced are meant to last a lifetime. This could make them more environmentally friendly, as they are designed to last virtually forever and are unlikely to be carelessly discarded.
The key to reducing the impact of supermarket carrier bags is to reuse them as many times as possible, no matter what they are manufactured from. Plastic bags have the edge, as they can be used time and time again.
What does the future hold?
If we replaced plastic with paper, some scientists believe this would increase our carbon footprint. In Canada, researchers claim plastic bags can help conserve the earth's natural gas resources. The nation's plastic bags are manufactured from ethane and this is frequently burned off during the natural gas refining process.
The Canadian research concludes paper bag manufacturing is more resource-intensive than paper bag making and it's hard to reuse paper bags the required number of times to make them environmentally friendly because they're prone to tearing.
The Liquor Board of Ontario began using paper bags rather than plastic bags but found the 100% recycled paper didn't perform well and wasn't strong enough. They started manufacturing their four-bottle bag out of virgin paper to carry heavier loads, while their one and two-bottle bags were made with up to 40% recycled paper content. However, this could be counter-productive in terms of going green, as virgin forests are being cut down to make new bags.
Paper bags also weigh five to seven times more than plastic bags and have a greater mass, so this is more waste for local authorities to manage. This can result in more greenhouse gas emissions.
What can we do to help?
People who are trying to do their bit for the environment are aiming to reduce purchases of single-use plastics - a survey by GCS in 2019 claimed consumers were becoming more eco-aware in general. The group's Retail and Sustainability Survey revealed more than two-thirds of shoppers considered sustainability when making a purchase.
Younger people are keener than the older generation to make a change in their shopping habits, according to GCS, who interviewed more than 1,000 people of all ages. Generation Z shoppers - the demographic group born in the mid-1990s and later - make up some of the most environmentally aware buyers. A massive 68% have made eco-friendly purchases and are willing to pay more for sustainable products.
Without further research into how to reduce the carbon footprint of the paper manufacturing and recycling industry, it seems unlikely that paper products will phase out plastic in the near future.
It is very much down to us, as individuals, to use any material wisely.
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